Curtain-fixture.



C. A. STERLING.

CURTAIN FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1911.

S/ gwuevgoz t 35, album,

Patented May 14. 1912.

CHARLES A. STERLING, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 141, 1912.

Application filed April 29, 1911. Serial No. 624,204.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cnannns A. S'rnnuse, a citizen of the United States,and resident of East'Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey,have made a new and useful Invention in Curtain-Fixtures, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is directed to fixtures designed for use with springcontrolled roller curtains, such as are ordinarily found in railwaycars, cabs, and public conveyances generally, where it becomes necessaryto remove the curtains entirely from the window, either to clean thewindows, the curtains themselves, or to effect repairs upon the curtainsor the fixtures; and to this end it relates particularly to the holdingand controlling means by which such curtains are raised or lowered andleft locked or held in any desired position, and it has for its objects,first, to provide cheap, simple, and efficient means'of the naturereferred to which will always act to positively hold the curtain in anydesired position and will enable the person manipulating the curtain todo so with the'least possible effort, such effort being practically thesame in each direction. Second,,to' provide a fixtureof this naturewhich will always. operate when the user attempts to either raise orlower the curtain, no particular-care being required to either raise orlower the same, the

nature of the fixture being such that no matter how the user may graspthe curtain rod or stick and apply the necessary force to raise or lowerthe same it will never stick or bind. Third, to provide a fixture of thenature referred to which will permit of quick and easy removal of thecurtain when it is desired to detach it from the window. Fourth, toprovide a fixture of this nature which will prevent any possibility ofbreaking or damaging the parts thereof, either when in use in raising orlowering the curtain, or when attempting to detach the curtain and thefixture from the window. Fifth, to provide a fixture of the naturereferred to which shall be prac tically self righting under allconditions of usage. Sixth, to provide afixture of the nature referredto which will adapt it for'use in any window, at all times, no mat-,

ter what the temperature or climatic condltions may be, the nnprovedfixture being of such a nature as to make it always practical and withthe same degree of nicety of action when properly adjusted. 'Scventh, toprovide a fixture of the nature referred to which embraces a minimumnumber of parts, all so constructed as to adapt all of the parts to heplaced in position within the casings of the window and in the lower endof the curtain aithe least possible expense and withtho parts insucidefinite relation to each other that a certaintyof operation is alwaysassured, when the fixture has been properly adjusted and applied, theadjustable features being of such a nature as to adapt the use of mynovel invention in windows of vuriable size, or windows in which theangular relations of the casings may vary materially from right angleswith the top and sill thereof and still permitp the use of my novelfixture with the best possible practical results.

Prior to my invention there have been devices put into practical use ofa number of types of fixtures for performing the functions for which myinvention was devised, but so far as I am aware none as yet have beendevised which will comply fully with all of the requirementshcreinbcfore mentioned. .Among these types may be enumerated-first. afixture in which re are provided spring pressed pawls i1, op-

posite ends of a hollow curtain rod or stick adapted to havefrictionalrclations respectively either with the backs of grooves in thewindow casings in which they move; or with pawls acting in a rack insuch grooves, these locking parts being removed by the agency of duplexfinger and thumb clasps located about the middleof the rod. Second, atype in which the curtain rod or stick is of tubular form and in whichthere are located at the outer ends spring pressed locking devices whichare frictionally held in corrugations or grooves of a strip sccurcd inthe casings grooves. the curtain being raised and lowered by graspingpinch handles secured to the middle of the rod. Third, a fixture hasalso been devised in which each of the spring pressed locking devices isprovided with a friction pad adapted to bear frictionally against the'back of the grooves. It has also been proposed to utilize pairs ofspring pressed rollers located at the opposite ends of the curtain rodandadapted to move in corruthese flattened 'portionsfor the gations orgrooves in metal strips in the casings of the window and provided with afinger clip located at the middleof the rod for lifting and lowering thecurtain, but none of these types in their perfected forms, as beforestated, will accomplish all the resu ts attributable to my improvementwhich i will now describe, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a car window provided with aspringcontrolled curtain havmg my. improved fixture at tached thereto,the lower corners of the curtain being broken away to better illustrateleft 'upon the supposition that the parts shown arealetached from thewindow.

Referring now to the drawings in detail,

WV represents a car window and C a roller curtain of the springcontrolled type, such as are ordinarily used in windows of this nature.

R represents the curtain rod or stick which in this instance is oftubular form and is secured in the lower end of the curtain C in themanner illustrated'in Fig-1. This curtain rod or stick is screw-threadedat its opposite ends for a definite distance for effecting an adjustmentof the parts, as will be described more particularly later on, and isprovided with a thumb and tinger-clip K secured to the rod by a screw,as shown.

S, S represent two sleevesscrewthreaded interiorly so as to adapt themto be secured directly to the opposite screw-threaded ends of the rod R.These sleeves are made preferably ,of brass'and are flattened at theirouter ends until theinterior surfaces come into good mechanical contactwith each other. manner shown and a hole isdrilledthrough purpose ofreceiving pivot pins. 7), 79.

T is a pivoted arm which is constructed of a single folded piece ofmetal of theconformation shown and having two lateral or side faccsand acurvilinear hackpicce I), together with a short raurvilincar bottompiece t, the space between the adjacent parts I) and i being sufficientto admit of the insertion of the flattened end of the sleeve S and toalso admit of the desired amount of movement of the arm when the fixtureis in operation, will be described later on.

' P, P are holding or looking devices of They are then rounded off inthe mum angular resistance, and g the curta n 1s moved 1n the otherdirection the conformation shown each pivoted by a pin in the upper endof the pivoted arm f or part T. a

s, in this instance, is a leaf spring which is secured at its lower end'in a slot in the flat-tened part of the sleeveS andv rests at itsupperend, when the parts are assembled, against the long curvilinearside 'of' the second locking devices P. \Vhen theseparts are assembledin, the mannershown' 5. the leaf ,springs are first secured in thegrooves in the flattened ends of the sleeves S and the parts T are thenpivotally secured in position bythe pins p, p. The long ends of thesprings s are then forced backward by theinsertion'of the looking orholding devices P until the pivot pins a can beinserted so as to thuslock the two parts at' each end of the rod or stick .R into operativerelation and so that thelong ends of 5' the leaf springs a shall havesuch a fill crumed relation around the rounded ends of the flattenedportions of the sleeves S as to give proper pressure to the lockingdevices P, P, when the fixture is ready for use. 9Q

N, N represent metal racks having curvilinear teeth the upper faces ofwhich have relatively widely different angular relation for a purpose tobe hereinafter described, said racks being adapted to be held againstthe casings of the window between two grooved wooden strips G, G byscrews or nails, as such devices are usually held. It will be noticedthat these metal racks have not the conformation of regular corruga- 00tions, but that the faces ofv the long inclined portions tend to opposethe downwardmovement of the fixture and bear a. definite relation to thecorresponding lower longer bear-v ing faces of the pivoted holding orlocking devices P; while the other or shorter hearing surfaces of thesemetal racks are faced downward and bear a corresponding relation-to theshorter curvilinear toe-like con formations of the bearing faces of-thcupper 1 1-0 ends of thelocking devices P. This difference in angularrelation of the upper surfaces of" the racks N and the correspondingsurfaces of the pivoted or holding devices P constitutes a veryessential feature of my in-' vent-ion, in that it is important in themovement of acurtain that when it is drawn downward by grasping the clipK, the resistance which is offered to such downward draft shouldbe aminimum, owing to the-120,

fact that when one is moving the curtain?- downv 'a rd the'resistance ofthe spiral spring I which lifts the curtain upward, whcn.re-'

leased, is encountered, so that by the combined effect of the longinclinedbearing sur;

faces of the locking devices P andof the metal racks N, I am enabled)toofier a mini-- also that'when by lifting against't-he clip K theabrupt am: 1.30

tion of the toes of the devices P against the corresponding abruptsurfaces of the metal racks N will offer sutlicient resistance tosuchupward movement to prevent the curtain from rising too rapidly, underthe joint forces. Inother words, by this combined relation of'pivotedand spring pressed parts having peculiarly designed friction surfaces.together with friction racks having surfaces of a similar nature andinterrelated as de scribed, I am enabled to move the curtain in eitherdirection with practically the same amountof applied force. a resultwhich, so far as I am aware. has never before been effected with curtainfixtures of this nature. As a matter of-factythfl correlation of operative parts is'of such a delicate nature that it is not absolutelynecessary that one should grasp the clip K to move the curtain in eitherdirection, as l find it may be elevated by applying the hand at anypoint under the rod or stick It, and may in like manner be drawn down sothat when either elevating or lowering the curtain there is not theslightest possibility that one side orthe other shall travel the faster,and thereby lock or clamp the same, as so frequentlyoccurs with curtainsrovided with fixtures of the nature hereinbe ore referred to. In fact mynovel curtain fixture is, as I have ascertained by practicalconstruction and use, absolutely selfrighting under all conditions ofusage and can never be left in such a position in loweringforma'isingbut-that it will right itself and assume, its, correct relation to thewindow with which it is designedto be used. When it is required toremove the curtain it is only necessary to take hold of the rod or stickat any point and rotate it from left to right a sufficient distancetorem'ove the parts from the slots, and when this occurs the springs cacting upon the locking devices P, P cause the arms or parts T, T torotate until the bottom pieces t, "t bear against the under surfaces ofthe flattened portions of the sleeves '5 when the rod or stick may berotated laterally and the roller part of the curtain detached asdesired.

In the event of the casings of the window swelling as they often do, itonly becomes necessary to detach the fixture and rotate the sleeves Seither in opposite directions or toward each. other until the desiredadjustment is effected. I have also ascertained, in view of my widelyextendedknowledge of the use of curtains of this nature in railway cars,that oftentimes the windows are notsquare or rectangular; that is tosay, the casings are not absolutely vertical, so that with existingtypes or curtain fixtures much annoyance is foundto result, owing to thefact that no provision has been made for this gype of dissymmetry. Myimproved curtain xture absolutely overcomes the sticking or ehokingofthe fixture, no matter what may be therelatiion of the casings to thesill; nor to what extent the casings may swell or shrink duringditl'erent climatic conditions.

I do not limit my invention to the specific details of construction dizclosml in the drawings and hcreinlwfore described, as obviously thestructural features thereof might be materially departed from and stillcome within the scope of my improvement which is directed broadly to theprovision of means for effecting the adjustment of a spring controlledcurtain as to its position in a window in such manner that by nopossibility can it stick; nor can it be broken by careless mauimtlation;the parts may also be adjusted relatively to each other for effectingall of the results hereinbefore referred to.

Obviously instead of providing adjustable sleei'cs S with flattened endsconstructed as shown for securing the pivoted parts in the m annerillustrated and described,such sleeves might be absolutely dispensedwith and the ends of the tubular curtain rod or stick R themselvesflattened amt constructed in the same manner, thereby materiallycheapeiiing the structure and minimizing,

in so far as possible. the number of parts used, a feature of utilitywhich is very'important as to the cost of manufacturing such devices,and my claims are to be con'stt -ued as of such scope as to includethisfeatlu'e.

Having thus described my invention what- I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is- 1. A curtain fixture for aspring actuated curtain, embracing stationary holding means havingcurvilinear locking faces, the inclinations of the lower faces whichincline in opposite directions being more abrupt than the inclinationsof the upper faces; togethci with locking devices and springs forholding said devices against the stationary locking faces of the holdingmeans with sufficient stress to prevent the curtain from being rolled upby its spring, substantially as described.

2. A window curtain fixture having curvilinear holding racks located inthe casin s thereof. the two bearing faces of the said locking devices(airrespcnding in angular relation with the like hearing faces of theracks, whereby when the curtain is being raised a maximum braking effectis bad between the locking devices and the abrupt braking surfaces, andwhen the curtain is being lowered a minimum braking effect is badbetween the locking devices and the less abrupt braking faces of theracks, substantially as described.

O cured tothe outer'end of each "sleeve, and a locking device pivotallysecured to the free- 3. In a curtain fixture two racks havingcurvilinear teeth the ,faces of which have relatively widely differentangular relation to each other; 1n combination with a cur tain rod' orstick and a spring pressed looking device at eachv end thereof, thefrictional faces of they locking devices having'a definite angularrelation to each other and to the corresponding angular faces" of theracks, substantially as described.

4. A curtain fixture embracing racks having curvilinear teeth thefrictionalfaces of which are more abrupt upon the lowerside than uponthe upper side; in combination with a curtain stick having a holdinglooking device pivot-ally secured at each end thereof; ea'chlockingdevice being provided with a spring for forcing it outward intofrictional bearing withthe teeth of the rack, as the curtain is raisedor lowered; the cur-'' vilinear faces of the locking devices beingrespectively angularly related the same as i are the frictional faces ofthe racks, substan tially as described.

5. A curtain fixture having a curtain stick secured to the lower endthereof; apivot'ed arm or part T at eachend; a holding device providedat the free end of each pivoted part, and a spring secured at one end'toeach pivoted partavith its free end resting behind the correspondingholding device; togetherwith two racks having each; curvilinear teeththe faces of which differ in angular relation to each other and t0 theinclined faces of the holding devices, substan-' tially as described. I4

6. A curtain fixture'embracing a curtain rod and pivot-all sustainedholding devices,

one at each en together with two racks having curvilinear teeth,thefrictionaf faces of which offerrelatively widely differentresistance, to the movement of the curtain rod, dependent upon whichdirection it is being moved; said holding devices and rod being providedwith means ;for adjusting their operative relations with the" racks,s'ubstan tia'll'y. as described,

' vilinear teeth, the frictional faces of which 7. Awind'ow curtainfixture" embracing a tubular curtain' rod' and tubular" sleeves,

screw-threaded thereon; a'pivoted part se-" end of each pivoted part;111 combination with a spring secured to each sleeve and acting eachagainst'its corresponding locking dev-ice; together with two racks onein each window casing, said racks having ourhave relatively Widelydifierent angular re-' lation, substantially as described. 8. A curtainfixture embracing a curtain rod and a pivoted lockingdevice secured toeach end of said rod and having movement 1n a vertical plane in thedirection of the length thereof; together with yielding means forholding each locking device in fr ctional relation with the windowcasing, substantially as described.

9. A curtain fixture provided with a curpivoted parts secured at thelateral edges of the curtain and provided with springs for holding onepart of each pair in fixed relation to the window casings, substantlallyas described- 11. A curtain fixture embracing pairs of locking partspivotally secured to the opposite ends of a curtain stick and to eachother together with leaf springsfor holding the parts in definiterelation to-cach other and to the casings of-the window, the structuralrelation being such that practically the same force is required toeither raise 0'1 lcwerthe curtain, substantially as described.

12. A window curtain fixture embracinga curtain rod or stick; pairs oflocking parts pivotally secured to each other and to theopposite ends ofthe stick; together with.

racks having curvilinear teeth and located in the casings of the window;the lower faces of the rack teeth offering more re sistance to theholding parts thandofthe upper faces thereof to thecorresponding Parts Osuch holding parts, substantially as described.

13. A window curtain fixture embracing a plurality "of frictionallocking faces of relatively abrupt curvilinear form, and addi tionallocking'faces of relatively lessabru t curvature, all located in thecasings oi-t e ried by the curtain and having yielding means for holdingthem. in frictional rela tion with the aforesaid locking faces, theangular relation of said locking devices and the frictional faces beingsuch that practwo subscribing witnesses.

-window; together with locking' ,deviees car-1' CHARLES AJsTERLINGQ-jWitnesses: Y

C. J. KIN'rNEn, M. F. KEATING.

